Ravens roster projection: How will Eric DeCosta address uncertainty in the trenches?

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Life on the roster bubble is not a comfortable existence. Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin felt the pressure and the precarity last year, as an undrafted rookie in his first NFL training camp. He felt it even Saturday night, minutes after a performance that likely secured his place on the Ravens’ season-opening 53-man roster.

“I feel like I’m in the same position I was last year,” Martin said after the Ravens’ preseason-opening 24-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. “I got to prove myself, that I deserve to be on the 53-man roster, the same way I did last year.”

There’s almost no margin for error in Baltimore. With the NFL’s Aug. 30 deadline for roster cut-downs fast approaching, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has tough calls to make along both lines, in the secondary and elsewhere.

As the Ravens prepare for their midweek joint practices and Saturday’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, here’s a look at how they could set their initial roster.

Offense (25)

Quarterback (2): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

With Jackson in street clothes Saturday, Huntley kicked off the preseason as the Ravens’ starting quarterback. And, in the 15 snaps he played, Huntley proved he’s still Huntley. The Ravens have a good idea of what their backup quarterback brings after five seasons together.

The star of the night, though, was undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano. Besides one ill-advised red-zone pass that resulted in an interception, he looked like a veteran. He completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens are unlikely to carry three quarterbacks on their roster, but with Skylar Thompson’s season over, Fagnano made a strong case for the practice squad.

Running back (4): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, Adam Randall

Ali, sidelined at practice recently by an undisclosed injury, sat out Saturday’s game. The more time he misses, the looser his grip on a roster spot becomes. Ali established himself as a core special teamer last season, leading the team in kickoff returns, and he was having a promising camp until he got hurt. But, if the Ravens have space for only one back behind Henry and Hill, both of whom sat out the preseason opener, Randall could be the choice.

The fifth-round pick has a lot to learn after just one college season at running back. Running backs coach Eddie Faulkner said he can teach Randall technique as long as he is willing to be physical, and thus far, he has been. The coaching staff gave Randall lots of reps against the Eagles, and it’s clear he has room for improvement. Over his first five touches, he averaged 2.6 yards per carry. He finished with six carries of more than 5 yards but none longer than 10. By the time his night was done, Randall had 12 attempts for 46 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and one touchdown.

Wide receiver (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ja’Kobi Lane, Devontez Walker, Elijah Sarratt, LaJohntay Wester

Lane has been the story of training camp, and Saturday was a test to see whether he could shine against a different team in an NFL stadium. The third-round pick was playing against the Eagles’ backups and with the Ravens’ reserve quarterbacks, but his three catches seemed to prove he could. He showed his length, his sure hands and his ability to fight for extra yards.

And then he checked out, and it was Sarratt’s turn to take the stage. Drafted one round after Lane, he made a splash at organized team activities before suffering a hamstring injury. Sarratt, now healthier, has had fewer opportunities with the starting offense than Lane, and fewer camp highlights, but he finished Saturday’s win as the game’s leading receiver (six catches for 66 yards).

Again, it was against backups, but Sarratt demonstrated why he was able to produce in college without elite separation. His lowlight came when he fumbled, but that was uncharacteristic of a receiver who finished his two-year Indiana career without a fumble. He said he was glad to get it out of the way now. He also took reps at punt returner, showing he could have multiple roles on this team.

Walker, meanwhile, had three catches on three targets for 31 yards. Wester didn’t have a catch on three targets, but his camp production has ticked up and he’s the Ravens’ top punt returner. He could also earn more chances as a kick returner.

Tight end (4): Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Matt Hibner, Josh Cuevas

This group has been quiet through camp, but Hibner made noise Saturday. He was Huntley’s first target, and his first catch picked up 29 yards. The fourth-round pick made himself an easy target for the quarterbacks, and his hands were sure. He finished with five catches on five targets for 61 yards, the second most on the team. There’s hope yet that the Ravens’ tight ends will add more to their passing game.

Andrews and Smythe sat out, while another rookie, Cuevas, made just one catch for 11 yards. The fifth-round pick may not be an immediate contributor, but he’s expected to make the team and continue his development in Baltimore.

Offensive line (9): Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Danny Pinter, Vega Ioane, Roger Rosengarten, Emery Jones Jr., Carson Vinson, Andrew Vorhees, Ethan Pocic

Ioane talked a big game when he was drafted. “I’m all calm before the game,” the first-round pick said in April. “But, as soon as the game starts, I’m a different person. I’m trying to kill somebody.”

On his first NFL drive, Ioane backed up his talk by driving an Eagles defensive lineman into the ground. He didn’t play long (15 offensive snaps) and was charged with allowing two pressures in 10 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. But Ioane wasn’t playing next to Rosengarten, as he normally does in practice.

Once Ioane checked out, Jones moved over from left guard to right guard. He had a rough start and allowed a sack, but he found his footing. He seems likely to stay inside, though his experience at tackle raises his value.

All four center candidates played against Philadelphia. Pinter started and got 15 offensive snaps. Gwyn was next up and played 51. He graded out as the Ravens’ top offensive lineman, according to PFF. Pocic, working back from a torn Achilles tendon, played the final 14 snaps at center. Bullock got 14 snaps, all at right guard.

The Ravens don’t have room for three centers, because they’ll need backups at tackle and guard. For now, Pinter’s experience with the starting offense and Pocic’s track record could give them the edge over Gwyn and Bullock.

Vinson, drafted last year as a developmental tackle, played 66 snaps Saturday, second most on the Ravens. He fared well at left tackle and showed fire, too. He should be a shoo-in to make the team.

Vorhees, who started at left guard last year, has tumbled down the depth chart since the Ravens drafted Ioane and signed Simpson. He played 51 snaps, allowed two pressures and was flagged for a false start. But his experience and durability, along with a reduced salary cap hit, could keep him in Baltimore.

Defense (25)

Defensive line (5): Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, John Jenkins, Broderick Washington

This is one of the Ravens’ hardest spots to project. Madubuike, Jones and Campbell have had trying offseasons — surgery for Madubuike (neck) and Jones (pectoral), and a family tragedy for Campbell. None of them played Saturday. Jenkins, who was active against the Eagles, turned 37 last month.

Will DeCosta feel comfortable enough in that group’s durability to keep only five linemen? And could that fifth lineman be Washington, who missed most of last year with his own injury issues? Washington got pancaked on a viral Eagles highlight Saturday, but he otherwise played well, controlling his gap and making two tackles in run defense.

There are plenty of other options. Aeneas Peebles, David Olajiga, C.J. Okoye and rookie Rayshaun Benny all played at least 10 defensive snaps Saturday, with Peebles getting the most work (22 snaps) and making the earliest debut.

Outside linebacker (5): Trey Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Zion Young, Adisa Isaac

With Hendrickson and Robinson inactive, Green and Young had more than cameo roles in the preseason opener. Green got 15 snaps (13 on defense), and Young got 25 (22 on defense), with the second-round pick playing deep into the fourth quarter. Their pass rush production was marginal: In 19 such snaps, most of them by Young, the duo didn’t register a pressure, according to PFF.

Isaac had one pressure in eight pass rush snaps, and his surgically repaired elbow seemed to hold up well against the run. Maybe most telling was his special teams deployment; Isaac got early action on three units (kickoff coverage, punt coverage and punt return). Undrafted rookie Ethan Burke, one of Isaac’s competitors for the OLB5 spot, had an unremarkable performance and didn’t get a special teams snap until the second half. Kaimon Rucker, another contender, had a pressure and was active early on special teams.

Inside linebacker (4): Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan, Trenton Simpson, Jay Higgins IV

Buchanan’s activation off the PUP list Friday took some mystery out of the Ravens’ roster projections. Even if he’s not starting next to Smith in Week 1, he should be in line to contribute early in the season. Simpson is valuable enough that he didn’t dress for Saturday’s game.

A concussion knocked Higgins out of the win and could threaten his availability for the week ahead. But undrafted rookie Dominic DeLuca will have to prove his special teams value to pass Higgins in the pecking order. Higgins got first-half action with the Ravens’ kickoff coverage, punt coverage and punt return units, notching a tackle on the opening kickoff. He also played over 60% of their special teams snaps in eight games last year. DeLuca had a team-high 11 special teams snaps but none as an apparent first-teamer.

Cornerback (7): Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin, Chandler Rivers, Bilhal Kone

The Ravens would probably feel comfortable entering the season with six cornerbacks. Wiggins and Humphrey, after last week’s injury scares, should return to practice soon. Awuzie got the night off Saturday. Tampa started and allowed one short catch on four targets in coverage, according to PFF. Martin was one of the Ravens’ most impressive players, contributing on defense and special teams. And Rivers had a quiet night in the slot, showing comfort in exotic zone drops and in man coverage. The fifth-round pick broke up the one pass he was targeted on.

Kone, playing in his first competitive game since the season-ending knee injury he suffered in his first NFL preseason, could be worth keeping as well. He was solid in 21 defensive snaps, though he played just four on special teams. Kone might be hard-pressed to contribute in either phase early this year — he wasn’t cleared for full-team drills until this month — but he has an intriguing skill set for an outside cornerback. The Ravens’ patience with another tools-y corner, Tampa, is paying off. That leaves Robert Longerbeam, despite his impressive showing Saturday, stuck behind a logjam of talent.

Safety (4): Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, Keondre Jackson

Hamilton, Starks and Hawkins, all established starters, watched from the sideline Saturday. Jackson was one of the Ravens’ most active defenders, playing a team-high 29 snaps. On special teams, he lined up with their “first-string” kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt coverage and punt return units, another reminder of his importance to coordinator Anthony Levine Sr.

K’Von Wallace started and played just as many special teams snaps (seven) as Jackson. But will he be considered more valuable in the short and long term than someone like Kone?

Special teams (3)

Specialists (3): Tyler Loop (K), Ryan Eckley (P), Nick Moore (LS)

Eckley didn’t have a great opener, misfiring on a 27-yard punt in the first quarter before rebounding with a 40-yarder in the second. But there’s no reason to sound the alarm with the sixth-round pick, who’s looked solid in camp.

Loop is the more polarizing player. He hasn’t missed often in Owings Mills, but his shakiness at the Ravens’ practice in College Park and at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, when he pushed a 49-yard field goal wide right, will renew calls for a kicker competition. Even if DeCosta adds another contender, there’s no guarantee he’d beat out Loop for a spot on the season-opening roster.